BU Research Blog

Last week, to coincide with International Women’s Day, the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee of published its report on improving menstrual health [1].  This report ‘Menstrual health of girls and young women‘ includes a submission by BU M.Res. student Susara Blunden [2].  Susara is currently conducting her M.Res. research on endometriosis, a condition which affects more women than many people realise.  Susara Blunden balances her job as a women’s health research midwife at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) NHS Foundation Trust with a place on the National Institute for Heath and Care Research (NIHR)’s INSIGHT programme.

Endometriosis is not a problem unique to the UK, as last week a national newspaper in the Netherlands also under the heading ‘So much pain that you can’t to anything anymore’ [3].   This same newspaper article added that on average women suffer seven years of pain before they are diagnosed with endometriosis.  A similar delay can be found in the UK and the  Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen noted more generally that: “The  Committee is not convinced that the menstrual and gynaecological needs of young women and girls has been sufficiently prioritised in wider reforms to the healthcare system.”

References:

1. Women and Equalities Committee (2026) ‘Menstrual health of girls and young women‘ Twelfth Report of Session 2024–26 [HC 1265], See online: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/51887/documents/287889/default/
2. Written evidence from Susara Blunden RM, Women’s Health Research Midwife and Dr. Edwin van Teijlingen, Professor of Reproductive Health, Bournemouth University, Fiona Yelnoorkar RN, RM, Senior Research Leader, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Priscilla Fernandez, RN RM, Specialist Research Nurse/Midwife, Edinburgh University [RGW0073] See online: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/149205/html/
3. Melse, N. (2026) Zoveel pijn dat je niets meer kunt, AD [dinsdag 3 maart/Tuesday 3rd March].